BBC Arts Digital brought you three days of coverage of the festival’s greatest writers, thinkers and performers.
The popular Olympian had some of the longest queues of the day at the Hay Festival bookshop yesterday following his talk, which you can now watch in full on BBC iPlayer or on the carousel above. Here he tells of a moment from the Beijing Olympics that left a lasting impression...
The comedian and chat show host - speaking at the festival last night - admitted he was surprised at the positive reviews his debut novel received.
Philip Pullman, speaking at Hay in 2005
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If you missed our live stream last night you can now catch up on Stephen Fry's fascinating lecture about the future of society in the internet age. Watch it over on BBC iPlayer or on the carousel above.
Here's a taste:
Stephen Fry on why we must embrace the new technology that will shape our future.
We're at The Hay Festival again today, bringing you the latest news and highlights from the 30th anniversary edition, including live streams from Garry Kasparov and Tracey Emin. The sun is now well and truly out after yesterday's grey skies, and the site is full of book fans enjoying the weather.
See you again tomorrow
That's all from us for today, but we're back tomorrow for more live coverage from Hay, including chess grandmaster Garry Kasparov and artist Tracey Emin.
There's also still time to nominate your essential book from the last 30 years across fiction and non-fiction. So far, 29 books have already been nominated:
Not seen your favourite? Why not convince us of your top book by leaving a review on our interactive page, or let us know on social media using #HAY30BOOKS. The 30th book will be crowned on Sunday afternoon.
See you on the morrow.
Hannah Burson, Old Electric Shop bar
Image source, Hay FestivalHannah Burson sits in her bar, the Old Electric Shop, Hay-on-Wye
Quote MessageThere are a large number of people here who like to offset the lack of things to do by creating things to do. They congregate here, so interesting things happen, which perhaps you would not expect, because it’s a small border town. And in most small border towns, nothing much happens at all. We have poetry nights, comedy, music, cocktails. Atmosphere, you know.
Throughout the day, we will be telling the modern history of Hay-on-Wye through the words of the people who make it what it is.
Jeanette Barker, the Granary, Hay-on-Wye.
Quote MessageI have a picture at home of Broad Street from when I was little, and there’s not one person on it, and that’s what Hay was like back then. I thought I would die of boredom as a youngster, but then things started to happen. The farming has changed, because of the economy, the way people shop too. It’s changed Hay completely. Hay looks the same, but the people have changed. Some things have been odd, some things strange, but it’s not boring anymore; and it’s so good for young people.
Throughout the day, we will be telling the modern history of Hay-on-Wye through the words of the people who make it what it is.
Image source, Hay FestivalClick the play icon above to watch Stephen Fry as he re-imagines the internet. Can the great invention of recent times still stay something for everyone in the age of social media, hacking and global connectivity?
Andrew Williams, Eighteen Rabbit fair trade shop.
Image source, Hay FestivalAndrew Williams, proprietor of Eighteen Rabbit, Hay-on-Wye
Quote MessageHay has always been a weird place, you go back hundreds of years, and it’s been a magnet for eccentrics, weirdos, call them what you will. There is a real spirit that runs through this place, and when you get that groundswell, it creates a snowball effect. When we left London a lot of people said we would be bored in a backwater, but actually it’s the opposite. Hay’s a border town that takes inspiration from both sides. It’s always changing.
Throughout the day, we will be telling the modern history of Hay-on-Wye through the words of the people who make it what it is.
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Jane Fonda, speaking at Hay in 2005
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Finnish writer Maria Turtschaninoff explains why she thinks equal rights were the most important invention ever.
Letter-writing is often called a lost art but, at the Hay Festival, a diverse cast of actors and musicians celebrated the variety and magic of written communication.
Image source, Hay FestivalLetters Live cast takes a bow
Image source, Hay FestivalLouise Brealey reads a letter at the Hay Festival
Image source, Hay FestivalStephen Fry, Juliet Stephenson and James Rhodes after Letters Live
Image source, Hay FestivalTony Robinson reads a letter at the Hay Festival
Margaret Atwood, speaking at Hay in 2006
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An adaptation of Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel The Handmaid's Tale begins tomorrow night on Channel 4, external.
Derek Addyman, Addyman Books.
Quote MessageI don’t get to many events at the Festival, because I’m always working, but the best thing I ever saw was Ian Dury. He had cancer at the time, but he just sang through the pain. The vodka helped though, I think.
Throughout the day, we will be telling the modern history of Hay-on-Wye through the words of the people who make it what it is.
Clive James, speaking at Hay in 2004
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Maya Angelou, speaking at Hay in 2002
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Penny Chantler, Hill Farm, Llanigon
Quote MessageI started to get involved in the festival in 2002. I’d broken my ankle and they were short of people in the Box Office. They rang up and said that since I couldn’t do anything useful up here, I may as well go down there. The festival was really growing by then and they needed people, so I just fell into it. It’s a great contrast to farming, you get a bit of cabin fever up here, lovely though it is. So coming down to the festival and getting bombarded by loads of people is great.
Throughout the day, we will be telling the modern history of Hay-on-Wye through the words of the people who make it what it is.
Lindsey Chapman is speaking to the best-selling author over on Facebook...